Pull back your shoulders {Health}

Ok, so this is the most difficult in the series of right postures. Even I am not sure of how to explain and even I have not yet practiced it accurately that I can tell you how to do it. It is said that you should pull your shoulders back but it is no where specified how and how exactly to do without looking too stiff. One thing I can mention is that pull back your shoulders only a little so that they are parallel to the hips when you are sitting or standing. Generally, they are not coz we tend to slump forward a little. This would cause your chest to come a little forward and make your breasts look firmer.

But, do not make the position so stiff that the muscles of your back start to ache. So, try various positions and select the one which is most comfortable and makes you look a little upright than what you currently are. That would mean you are pulling your shoulders back. Ok, one more thing which I would add before concluding this series is that pull your whole body into an attention position when you are standing but without looking too stiff so that it looks as if you have all your body parts in control without being too uncomfortable. Generally, it is also said to suck your stomach inside but I wouldn't recommend that as it makes it difficult to breathe deeply. Another sign that you are holding the right body posture is that it allows you to breathe deeply without too much of an effort.

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Working on computers and desks

People are spending more and more time in front of computers and on desks absorbed into the files and worksheets and end up with craned necks. So, what is the remedy? While you are sitting in front of the computer, it is always useful to learn typing because it helps the person to focus on the screen instead of keyboard. This way you don't have to spend whole time straining yourself looking at the keys. This way your neck is not bending over. While working on the files and worksheets, use a slanting board (like the drawing boards or the boards seen at the architects offices) or some accessory which you can use to place the files to look at them easily instead of bending over them. Always work in good lighting areas and make maximum use of the day light. It is good for the body too. And, take frequent breaks while working so that your body is not cramped into one position for a longer period of time. 

Also, it is very important that you do not bend over anythign unless you are bending to pick up something. Do not ever sit hunched up or slump while sitting. It makes you look fat, unconfident and really unattractive. Sitting in the upright position indicates you are attentive.

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Keep your head parallel to the ground

Well, you might think that you are doing that but most of the times, your neck is bent over whatever you are doing. So, take care and avoid doing that. Instead, use your eyes to look at the whatever you are doing unless you are really bending over something. Do not drop and bend your neck separately. Ideally, your head and neck should always be at 90 degrees to the ground even while you are working on a computer. Yes, that is why it is advantageous to learn typing. (In case you think I know typing, no I don't!!) But, I am not preaching here, just stating a simple fact of how it should be. Keep the head portion straight even while walking. It is not always if you notice. But, refrain from putting your nose in the air, trust me some people do that!!! Probably, they don't know. And, some slump their necks which makes them look unconfident. So, both positions are dangerous. See that you are not overdoing either. 

An added advantage of this position is that it draws attention to your neck even if it is not that long and makes you look slimmer overall. Btw, if you do this regularly, you will see an immediate change int he shape of your neck too. There is a reduction in the fat deposit in the neck area and it makes you look taller and confident.

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Sit fully back on the chair

Many of us tend to sit just in the front portion of the chair. Sometimes our legs don't reach the ground or on other times, we are just nervous. But, the main part of body taking bearing all that burden is the spinal cord. Not sitting properly on the chair does not give proper support to the hips and the body is not in a relaxed position. Thus, sit with your buttocks touching the back of the chair and keep your spine upright. You don't have to sit poker straight but keeping spine in s reasonably straight position helps in strengthening the spine as well as providing proper support for the body. It is difficult to get used to in the starting so you may slump once every half hour for 2-3 minutes as a relaxation.

Also, it is said that keeping your spine poker straight at 90 degrees from the ground level is not relaxing but strains the spine. So, you can get a chair which has 105-135 degrees angle or you may also use a soft pillow to cushion the small of your back just above the buttock region. Either or doing both of these also helps in relaxing the spine a lot and creates a comfortable position for anyone to sit in.And, don't forget to rest your legs on a stool or something raised above the ground. Generally, a chair which has a holding connecting the legs acts as a good foot stool. 

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Do not hang your legs from the chairs

In the last post, I briefly described some situations where working for long time on computers is wreaking havoc on health. So, I am mentioning something from the last post itself. Never ever leave your legs hanging from the chairs. If you are not tall enough, keep a stool in front of the chair to rest your legs.

You might have noticed that there is a foot rest almost every where in the buses or flights or chair cars. That is not luxury but a necessity. Resting your legs on a little higher level than your ground does not put unnecessary pressure on the spinal cord and eases the blood circulation which stops when the legs are hanging. There is a lot of pressure on the lower spinal cord too when the legs are hanging. Even the hips hurt when you do that. And, kids tend to do this often. So, prevent that.

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Body Postures and Health Issues

Hey guys!!! I was watching Femina Miss India today (I know I'm late so just felt like catching up). One thing which you notice very soon in these kinds of pageant contests is the carriage of the contestants. They not only talk well and look beautiful but carry themselves pretty well and a major part of that comes with their body postures. Body Posture is a study in a itself and it is extremely important to maintain a good posture. A good posture can make you look thinner, appear taller and enhance your personality; not to mention help you in losing your weight and increases your confidence levels. 

Personally, I did try for a week or so maintaining a proper sitting posture with straight back and no slumping at all and honestly, I could tell the difference in my weight, in my height and carriage and also it helped me relieve some of the stress too. Now, I do work on computer a lot and so do a lot of my friends and peers and almost everyone today spends a lot of time on computers. And, of course, its not very easy to sit in front of computers in the swivel chairs so we tend to lose the correct posture after a certain amount of time. And, then there is a matter of office furniture (or a lack of it!!) and we do tend to forget to relax while working on the computer. Yes, concentrating for a long time on computers does play havoc with the minds too in increasing the stress and making us forgetful. So, we forget that we can relax ourselves of the strain by getting up from the chair or looking beyond the screen in front of us. Oh, btw, in case you think getting bigger screen is better, let me tell you bigger the screen more is the strain coz you are very close to the screen. 

So, one of my friend always keeps on complaining about back pain or leg aches or wrist strains or neck-shoulder stiffness and she sits in front of the computer for like 8 hours a day on average. I know its lot less if we compare to some of the software geeks but still it is a lot and I do not blame our work for that coz our work can be divided into two parts - in front of computer and away from computer. So, one just have to remember to stay away from computer when not needed. But, then I am not even blaming my friend!!! Its just that the workplace is designed so. Not fair at all. 

Then, there is another of the lady who has all sorts of medical issues just due to the bad furniture in her office. She is pretty short so when she sits in a swivel chair, her legs don't reach the ground so they just remain hanging. Now, you might be aware that no part of your body should be left hanging because the blood circulation stops in those parts of the body. Same thing happened with her legs and now her legs are pretty much weak. Not fair at all, right?? Offices should take care of their employees too.

Now, the next generation is all addicted to video games and computers and who has any time to go outdoors and play some games and have fun!!! The social life today has become restricted to facebook and twitter. So, body problems are bound to arise. How to prevent all these kinds of problems??? Watch out for the next post.

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Why is good posture important?

I have already talked about the effect of sleeping posture on our height and exercises for better posture. Now, after speaking about those things, I want to talk about why maintaining a good posture is actually important. There are definitely some obvious reasons like improving self-confidence and your appearance.

The first and foremost benefit is that you do not ever get back aches. Spinal Cord is the first thing which gets affected due to a bad posture and over the years, it loses its strength. Maintaining a good posture makes sure that you spinal cord has strength. Do not strain your spine. And, a proper posture helps in increasing your height as I have already pointed out in my earlier posts. 

Then, there comes benefits of decreased risk of injuries, proper airflow in the body and increased energy levels. Oh, and before I forget, let me point out that a poor posture enhances your body fat and flab. Also, you seem lethargic and convey vibes of sluggishness.

Now, how to improve your posture?

• Walk with your shoulders forcibly held back and head should be held parallel to the ground. This will put stress on your shoulder blades but that is fine. It will be there until you get used to it. 
• Always walk with foot facing forward instead of an outward open position. This will help prevent any knee pains in the future.
• Sit in an upright position in a high backrest chair. Make sure that you provide support to the small of your back too. Otherwise, you will end up with back problems.
• Do not let your spine remain curved at any time of the day.
• Hold your neck in a relaxed and upright position. You do not have to stretch the neck forward or high like a camel. Just be comfortable and always hold it in such a way that your face is parallel to the ground.

These are some of the ways in which you can improve your posture and look better. 

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Exercises for better posture

I was talking about relation between sleeping posture and height yesterday. So, continuing on the same lines, I would also like to bring to your attention that posture is something intrinsic to the way we carry ourselves and the older we grow, we slacken our postures and cause harm to our bodies. So, today, I would share with you some exercises for better posture. Read about the exercises here. 
And, let me remind you that better posture not only makes you look more beautiful, it improves your self-confidence, helps with self-esteem issues you might have and causes your body to lose unnecessary weight and makes you look even more attractive. So, start practicing these exercises for better postures from today.

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